Hello all,
A nice but somewhat slow afternoon and evening spent at Dash Point Pier
looking for blown in seabirds. Only luck with such was a somewhat late (and
rare for this county) Red-necked Phalarope which flew by a few minutes after
one of many squalls blew over.

Wednesday, 12 October 2003 (2:00-6:30PM)
Dash Point Pier, Pierce County.
Heavy showers, light south wind, flat water, visibility good.

American Wigeon (40)-overhead.
Greater Scaup (120)
Surf Scoter (35)
White-winged Scoter (7)
Barrow's Goldeneye (4)
Red-breasted Merganser (1)
Red-throated Loon (2)
Pacific Loon (1)
Common Loon (3)
Horned Grebe (12)
Red-necked Grebe (9)
Eared Grebe (1)
Western Grebe (26)
Pelagic Cormorant (8)
Bald Eagle (1)-resident adult.
Northern Harrier (2)-flew low off water from Maury I., gained alt. &
proceeded se.
Dunlin (1)-flying over.
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE (1)-to south 5:45pm.
Bonaparte's Gull (750)
Thayer's Gull (1)-adult.
Common Murre (12)
Marbled Murrelet (2)-pair to north.
Rhinoceros Auklet (20)
Mourning Dove (1)-base of pier.
Harbor Porpoise (14)

Passerines were very plentiful at Dash Point State Park -
Hutton's Vireo (10)-all in one tree.
Hermit Thrush (8)
Varied Thrush (60)-a very large flock.
Yellow-rumped Warbler (12)

Cheers and good birding,
--
Charlie Wright
Sumner, WA
charlie at birdwright.com